Huntsville gazette., 1887-04-02
WHAT ALLIED HIM.
Sad Story of a Boy Sick With
Nostalgia"

Farmer Connover strobe into the
mouse, took off his fur cap and thick
Elittens, and unwound numerous kinks
of red woolen comforter from his ample
throat. Then he sat down by the
warm wood fire and said to his wife:
''Seems like L had somethin' to tell
ye, Sairy Ann, but can't for the life
of me remember it neow.''
"Was it somebody got married?' in
guired Mrs. Connover, who was
bustling about setting the table for
supper.
mo, didn't seem as twas. Lemme
think" and he pressed meditative
forefnger on that portion Of his fore
head where he seemed to locate the
faculty of memory.
rs anybody dead that we are ac-
quainted WITH"
'..No. no, faint eyether marryin' or
dyin' as / kin see. Gurus how do for
get things sometimes
1--WE amt heard from Ben for quite
awhile suggested Mrs. Connover.
s.That's it!'' cried the farmer, Jump
ing to his feet as sprightly as a log.
'Tain't from Ben, leastwise it amt
his handwritin', but it's letter. I've
got it right here in my pocket
''Do tell!n said his wife, dropping
the dishes she was holding in promis-
cuous heap. ..If it amt from Ben,
who is it from?"
..It's writ to you," said her husband,
producing it at last.
Mrs. Connover reached up to the
clock shelf and took down her Bible
reading spectacles.
nIt's a strange shand to me- she
said, scanning it carefully, 'mnst be
some of Cicely's folks"
: So she stepped to the door leading
above stairs and called at the top OF
hervoice: eagwggA9
''C-i-c-e-l-y! C-i-c-e-l-y"'
''Here l am, mother" answered a
sweet voice. ''What is it9''
For every infection of her good
mothers voice was familiar to her, and
this one bristled with exclamation
points.
s'Here is a letter in strange hand
write. DO you know who it is from?''
handing it to her.
..Why, it is addressed to you, mother.
1t seems to me the easiest way to find
out would be just to open and read it. >
"Well, then, do" said her mother.
.T'm so fdgeted thinking about Ben
off there alone that ! can't open IT.
''This isn't any thing about Ben, .
said Cicely, deftly opening the envel.
ope after she had admired the smart,
college style supercription. "st's from
some lawyer or fruit-tree agent, likely,
on business.
''What would he write tc your mother
for?' suggested Father Connover gruf
fly.
Cicely read it over to herself first
and at once changed color.
1T is about Ben. mother" she said
the tears rushing iEro her eyes and hel
voice, che is sick, and this is from the
doctor who is taking care Of him. Oh
mother, don't cry. Ben needs you
Keep up your strength. "
) .What ails him?" asked his father in
an unsteady tone. "a
Cicely read the doctors letter.
He said tkas Ben was his patient, and
he was doing all he could for him, bu1
his parents had better come, as it re
auired more skill than he-the phys
ician-had to cure him. He ended by
saying that the boy was suffering from
a severe attack of nostalgia.
..What in the world is that? j never
heard OF it BEFORE" exclaimed Mr.
Connover.
..What is it, Cicelyp" asked Mrs
Connover. Cice!y was a graduate o.
the Normal school, and her parent.
expected her to know every thing.
She shook her head.
at means that we must go to BeI
lust as soon as we can. If there hat
been any hope the doctor would hav'
said so.'''
I She cried andgworked at the same
J time Ben, her only brother, was he
idol. She had opposed his going ava.
from first to last, but the father wa
wiser
..If the boy amt confented here, lie
him 60 to the city, and clerk it for
year or two. He's king Of two hand
anywhere said the gruff old farmer
And Ben had been i'll and too ptout
to let them know.
They took the evening train. At tn